“Orchid is the granite city’s home for discerning drinkers. At orchid, we are dedicated to raising the standards for mixed drinks and cocktails in Aberdeen and Scotland. We aim to provide you with a styled, relaxed environment in which to enjoy our range of cocktails whether it be classic of contemporary.”
Orchid Website
“The Brig o’ Balgownie (originally Bridge of Don) is a 13th-century bridge spanning the River Don in Old Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland.
Wikipedia Page
Construction of the bridge was begun in the late 13th century by Richard Cementarius, although its completion was not until 1320 at the time of the Scottish War of Independence. After falling into disrepair in the mid 16th century it was extensively renovated in 1605.
Throughout its history the bridge has been considered an important asset. For five centuries possession of the bridge was the only way to move large armies quickly along the eastern coast of Aberdeenshire. It also provided a trade route to the wealthy areas of the north-east of Scotland.
The bridge is constructed of granite and sandstone. Its single gothic arch has span of over 12 metres and at low tide the apex of the arch lies over 17 metres above the water-line.”
Local legend suggests that this bridge was started by Bishop Henry Cheyne in the late 13th or early 14th century and completed by Robert the Bruce. Whilst this may or may not be true, historical documents show that the bridge we see today was the result of rebuilding work in three phases in the early 17th century.
This was the main crossing on the Don leading to the north from Aberdeen and vice versa prior to the construction of the adjacent Bridge of Don in 1831. Today the Brig o’ Balgownie is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
It is situated over a deep pool known as the Black Neuk. It has attracted much interest from various sources and features in Lord Byron (1788 – 1824)’s poem, Don Juan:“As ‘Auld Lang Syne’ brings Scotland, one and all,
VisitAberdeenshire
Scotch plaids,Scotch snoods, the blue hills, and clear streams,
The Dee, the Don, Balgounie’s brig’s black wall,
All my boy feelings, all my gentler dreams
Of what I then dreamt, clothed in their own pall,
Like Banquo’s offspring; – floating past me seems
My childhood in this childishness of mine:
I care not – ’tis a glimpse of ‘Auld Lang Syne.”
| Brig o’ Balgownie at The Doric Columns |
If you are going to be here on the Saturday or Sunday prior to the conference (and are not involved in a Working Group or the Doctoral Consortium), you may want to wander around the City for an hour or two. Here are three different walks which take you around different parts of Aberdeen.
From the VisitAberdeenshire blog
Hillgoers owner, Garry Cormack shares his favourite hills and mountains in Aberdeenshire with VisitAberdeenshire.
“I am often asked which hill is my favourite and I quickly respond, Lochnagar. It’s actually hard to choose between them, as most are good in their own way. Lochnagar has everything though, rich in history, wildlife, the plateau, Glas Allt Falls and the loch and the corrie itself are breathtakingly beautiful. You can walk up to the incorrectly named Munro summit of Lochnagar (on OS maps Cac Carn Beag, should probably be Cadha Carn Beag – the little steep of the stony hill) from a few approaches but the usual route up is from the Spittal of Glen Muick. There is also an excellent visitor centre at the Spittal.”
“The best view on the walk is the corrie itself, which can be seen from the col beside Meikle Pap and is a good enough walk just to go there.”
“You don’t have to be a Munro bagger to enjoy hills though and some of the smaller hills offer better views and more nature. Another favourite Aberdeenshire hill for me is of course Bennachie. I’m there quite often delivering navigation courses but also just to enjoy the walks. Bennachie has a good mix of woodland, moorland, path and stream junctions, perfect for teaching navigation. The views are great too, from the sea all the way into the Cairngorms National Park.”
“There is so much history on the hill, like the plane crash that saw the first recorded casualties of WW2, the magnificent iron age fort on Mither Tap, the old settlements below and the different quarries on the hill where stone was taken for the Thames embankment. My favourite way to enjoy the hill is to approach from the informative visitor centre. Walk along the Gordon Way then cut up to Oxen Craig, over Mither Tap then down the south path to Heather Brig, much easier on the knees. There are plenty of walks for all abilities, including diverse nature trails for the young and old. Have a look at the Bennachie Visitor Centre or Bailies of Bennachie website for more information.”
“Other favourites are Sgòr Mòr, a Corbett just up from Linn o’ Dee, which offers great views down the Lairig Ghru but anywhere in the Cairngorms is fantastic.”
“Other great smaller hills are Scolty Hill in Banchory, Carnferg in Aboyne, Craigendarroch above Ballater and the beautiful Creag Choinnich in Braemar which has a fantastic nature trail too.
Before you go up any hill you should let someone know where you are going, have the right equipment and have the skills to navigate your way around the hill. You should also know the code before you go too. You can always take an expert guide and let them take care of everything! As I tell my clients, hill walking is just walking, so take your time and enjoy it!”
Garry Cormack
Parisian cafe by day, relaxed fine-dining restaurant by night.
Café Bohème is the epitome of savoir-vivre, in the very heart of Aberdeen. Combining over a decade of French heritage at its roots along years of Scottish cooking expertise. Bohème delivers the perfect fusion of classic cuisine and finest local produce. In true Parisian style – where time is to be savoured, not rushed – Bohème lives by the slow food values: ensuring meticulous attention to detail, served with passion for honest, homegrown produce.
Cafe Boheme website
Head chef John Pattillo and his team bring out the best in seasonal ingredients from across the North East, working with independent farmers, fishmongers and breeders. Join us for a rendezvous with the lunch menu, amuse your senses with Table d’hôte, or settle in for the night À La Carte-style.
Past Braemar, along the A93, at the edge of the Cairngorms, lies Glen Shee, the Glen of the Sith or Fairies.
Glen Shee is a glen in eastern Perthshire, Scotland. Shee. The head of the glen, where Gleann Taitneach and Glen Lochsie meet, is approximately 2 km north-west of the Spittal of Glenshee; it then runs south-east to Bridge of Cally where it merges with Strathardle to form Glen Ericht. Once known as the glen of the fairies it takes its name from the Gaelic “sith” meaning fairy and the old meeting place at the standing stone behind the present day church is called Dun Shith or Hill of the Fairies.
Wikipedia page
The main settlement is the Spittal of Glenshee, now by-passed, which has a historic hotel, first run by monks from Coupar Angus Abbey to provide shelter and hospitality for travellers, hence the name “Spittal”, an outdoor activity centre, self-catering lodges, the church and an original General Wade humpback bridge. The first record of a refuge for travellers there dates back to 961 AD.
At the Spittal, the Allt Lochay and Allt Beag join to form the Shee Water, which changes its name at Blacklunans to the Blackwater and eventually joins the River Ardle to form the River Ericht.
The A93 road, part of General Wade’s military road from Perth to Fort George, runs north through the glen and on into Glen Beag, where it crosses the Cairnwell Pass, at 2200 feet above sea level the highest public road in the UK. The road climbing to the summit is now wide and straight but until the late 1960s included two notorious hair-pin bends with a 1 in 3 (33%) gradient known as the Devil’s Elbow. One of the most spectacular roads in Scotland, this was a favourite subject for postcards.
Travel to Aberdeen City Centre
Aberdeen Airport is seven miles north-west of the city centre, on the A96 near Dyce. Here are your travel options, with links to further information.
Aberdeen International Airport website
By taxi
Taxis are available for hire on the terminal forecourt or via the ComCab booking office. The journey takes about 15 minutes in normal traffic and the fare is usually around £16.
Aberdeen Airport taxis
By bus
First Aberdeen and Stagecoach Bluebird both run buses between the airport and city centre. The timetabled journey is about 30 minutes in normal traffic. Fewer buses run at weekends and at night, so please check the timetables beforehand.
Aberdeen Airport buses
By train
The nearest rail station, Dyce, is a short taxi ride from the airport. Trains from Dyce reach Aberdeen in about ten minutes and a standard Anytime single ticket costs £2.20.
Aberdeen Airport by train
By car
It takes about 15 minutes to drive into central Aberdeen in normal traffic via the A96 Inverness-Aberdeen road. Car rental companies have desks in the arrivals area of the terminal.
Aberdeen Airport by car
Aberdeen Airport parking
Aberdeen Airport car hire
“A fiercely independent company in the heart of Aberdeen, doing it our way for over 20 years.
Siberia Bar Website
Established in 1994 this terraced bar and restaurant has everything you need. Boasting a 370 capacity venue with various bookable areas, we can host any party tailored to your needs. With an extensive kitchen & buffet menu, drinks packages and more, look no further for your day out – you can even bring your dog!
We pride ourselves in our honest and no-nonsense approach. Giving a relaxed and friendly environment with a wide range of affordable drinks. Whether you are popping down for a bite to eat or to play some board games. For a coffee or to listen to our resident DJ on a Saturday; we appeal to diverse clientele no matter what the occasion.”
Aberdeen iCentre is conveniently located at 23 Union Street in the heart of the City.
Aberdeen iCentre
Aberdeen is a centre for energy and education and we welcome many international visitors. We have a team of local experts ready and waiting to help you explore the area. Our team has excellent knowledge of the whole of Scotland. Old Aberdeen is a highlight, with Aberdeen University which dates back to 1495. Aberdeen beach offers panoramic outlooks. Aberdeen is home to wildlife with the North Sea home to dolphins and seals. Pop in and let us inspire you! We can also book tickets for Karl Fisher day tours, City Tours, Citylink and Calmac. We offer a wide selection of gifts to help you find that perfect Scottish souvenir. We offer free WiFi and we are open all year round.
| Day | Times | |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 09:00 | 18:30 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 | 18:30 |
| Wednesday | 09:30 | 18:30 |
| Thursday | 09:00 | 18:30 |
| Friday | 09:00 | 18:30 |
| Saturday | 09:00 | 18:30 |
| Sunday | 10:00 | 17:00 |
From the VisitAberdeenshire blog
“Our 165 miles of stunning coastline, ancient fishing harbours and the rolling hills of purple clad countryside provide not only stunning backdrops but the perfect opportunity to discover nature.
VisitAberdeenshire blog
See puffins perching on craggy cliff-tops, seals chilling out on the beach bay, red deer roaming majestic countryside and even get up close to an eagle – can you believe that you can spot all of them in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
No words can describe the beauty of the wildlife to be discovered here in North-east Scotland, so here’s some stunning images that do all the talking for us.:
